PSB Approves Lowell Wind Project

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(Host)
The Public Service Board has approved Green Mountain Power's proposal for a 63
megawatt wind project on Lowell Mountain in the Northeast Kingdom.

As
VPR's John Dillon reports, the project would be the largest wind energy
development in the state.

(Dillon)
GMP wants to build 21 turbines, each over 400 feet tall,
along three miles of the Lowell Mountain ridgeline. The Public Service Board gave its strong
support to the proposal. The board said the turbines would reduce greenhouse
gas emissions and would help Vermont meet its renewable energy goals.

The
board said other sources of electricity could be less expensive, but it found
that the wind project would provide customers with long-term, stably priced,
renewable power. GMP President Mary Powell was delighted with that
conclusion.

(Powell) "I think really what was so
compelling certainly to us as we started to look at this project, and certainly
came through in the board's order, is that this is incredibly cost-effective
for premium renewable energy, which is consistent with the state's renewable
energy goals."

(Dillon)
The approval came just over a year after GMP filed its massive application with the PSB.

The
company faces a tight deadline, because it needs to have the turbines up and
running by the end of next year in order to qualify for federal tax credits. Powell
said construction will start in August.

(Powell) "We will have the project on
line by probably the third or fourth quarter of 2012."

(Dillon)
The wind project was supported by a vote in the town of Lowell, but it faced strong opposition from some in
neighboring communities. They questioned whether the project was worth the
environmental cost of building wide access roads and disturbing wildlife habitat
high on a mountain ridgeline.

Steve
Wright is a former state fish and wildlife commissioner who lives in nearby
Craftsbury.

(Wright) "It is abhorrent to me to think
that state government would be advocating blowing up portions of the Green
Mountains. And when I say blowing up, that's what I mean.
That's actually what will happen. In this, particularly, there will be a road
that in some places is as wide as Interstate 91, on top of the mountain."

(Dillon)
Opponents vowed to continue to fight, and they questioned how GMP could start work later this summer when many permits were likely to be
appealed. Annette Smith is executive director of Vermonters for a Clean
Environment.

(Smith) "There are still outstanding
Agency of Natural Resources permits. They need a wetlands CUD; they need a
stormwater operation and construction permit. Those are appeal-able to the
Public Service Board and those are appeal-able to the Vermont Supreme Court.
So I really wonder what it is they're thinking by saying they're going to start
in August."

(Dillon)
The PSB rejected many of the environmental arguments. It said
that any energy development of this size has environmental impacts, but it said
on balance the project served the public good.